cntryheart

My sister and I started this journey together in 2008.  She ended up paying for hers without insurance.  I found that with the insurance I had with United Health Care, I would have to pay $8000 (50%) out of pocket for my surgery. I was forced to wait. A year later, my sister had lost 100 pounds and I was still large(243 pounds) and had not funded my surgery.  As fate would have it, my job moved to another company that had different insurance, this time Aetna.  They would pay all but my out of pocket which was $1000.  FINALLY!! MY WAIT HAD PAID OFF.  I passed all the preop tests and insurance requirements and received a great referral from my medical doctor.  Once I had the insurance approval, my surgery was scheduled within 3 weeks. The entire process actually took about 5 months once I started seeing the psychologist, and going to the required nutrition and preop classes required.  WOW all that time and it was finally a reality.On January 6th, I arrived at the hospital for my surgery.  Arrived at 5:30 AM was leaving for home by 11:30 AM.  I was nervous but watched Animal Planet while they prepared my IV and put on my beautiful surgery socks and booties.  I received a shot of heprin?? That really stung. But keep in mind I have a very low pain tolerance. That was a blood thinner they give you prior to surgery.  Soon when they were ready for me, they gave me something in the IV to help me relax.  The next thing I remembered I was waking up in the recovery room.  My throat was so sore and dry. I remember they picked me up to move me from one bed to another and that was the first time I felt the pain from my sutures.  They gave me a drink of sprite and it tasted GREAT!!  Then they gave me a quick chest x-ray and when all was ok and I was coherent, they sent me home.  My friend and sister had both recommended bringing a small pillow as it helped getting in and out of the car by applying pressure to the stomach.  Also helped with not having to bend with the soreness.I really wasn't prepared for the discomfort that I felt.  I took all the liquid hydrocodone I had by the time it was all healed.  I remember not being able to bend over without pain.  Also the first trip to the grocery store on or around post op day 5, was a chore.  I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my side just walking around the store.  I had not been able to get out of the house because of all the snow we had gotten. Well now I am on week 5 and all the pain has subsided. I am able to sleep on my side and stomach.  I do however feel the cord move as I twist and turn on occasion, but it is not painful, just a weird sensation.  My first fill is scheduled for 2/17/2010 and I am nervous but anxious at the same time.  I have noticed that my stomach does not growl right now, but I don't feel full yet when I eat, just less of a drive to eat. I have lost 17 pounds since my surgery on 1/6/2010,would like to be at 20 lost by my first fill. I had my first experience of food not going down the other day, tried to eat a piece of roast.  It was a little dry and I didn't chew it very well, but that was my ONLY experience prior to my first fill of anything that gave me trouble.